Camas teen charged with attempted murder, arson

A Camas teen has been charged with attempted murder, first-degree arson, burglary and possession of stolen firearms following a garage fire in Carson, Washington. 

Skamania County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Skamania County firefighters responded to a report of a vehicle fire inside a garage in Carson at 3:40 a.m. Tuesday, July 22. 

According to the Skamania County Sheriff’s Office press release, the homeowner’s security cameras showed a person believed to be the homeowner’s previous roommate, Michaela J. Cutler, 18, of Camas, intentionally setting the fire by pouring an accelerant around vehicles in the garage and “up to the door leading into the residence.” 

Investigators also discovered that the home’s smoke detectors “had been tampered with, making them inoperable,” according to the press release. 

Firefighters extinguished the fire, but that the vehicle inside the garage was a total loss and the residence sustained damage. 

Sheriff’s deputies discovered Cutler at a nearby hotel. According to the press release, she was initially booked into the Skamania County Jail for violating a court order, but was later charged with attempted murder, arson and burglary following a search of her hotel room and investigation. 

Carson was arraigned and is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail.